Company director dies during robbery by gang

A company director died after being attacked while walking his dog and being dragged into his home by a gang of robbers.

John Luper, 57, was set upon by three or four men close to his £800,000 house in the affluent Alwoodley area of Leeds at about 11.30pm on Monday, police said.

The raiders bundled him into his home and tied up his wife, daughter and a female relative, who were all in bed. The men threatened the women and ransacked the house. After the robbers fled the women untied themselves and discovered the body of Mr Luper in a room near the kitchen.

Paramedics were called to the house in Sandmoor Drive but Mr Luper was later pronounced dead. Police said there were no obvious signs of injury, leading to speculation that he died of a heart attack. The results of a post-mortem examination are expected today.

Mr Luper was a director of a clothing firm and a property leasing company. He was also a member and former director of the exclusive Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds. The three women who were tied up are believed to be his wife, Iyican, his daughter, Lisa Rose, 21, and an unnamed relative. They were not injured. It is not clear whether anything was stolen.

Detective Superintendent Bill Shackleton, the West Yorkshire officer in charge of the investigation, said the actions of the intruders were "horrific and despicable". He said police were not certain how many intruders were involved.

Ivan Green, a neighbour of Mr Luper, said that the incident had left residents shocked. The Moor Allerton Golf Club issued a statement expressing their shock at Mr Luper's death. "The committee and members are devastated by the tragic news of John's death," it said.

The Alwoodley area is on the northern fringe of Leeds and is home to some of the city's wealthiest residents.